Prepared for vaccine storage; will receive 13.9 lakh doses of vaccine in 1st phase says Min Sudhakar

Bengaluru: Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said that all preparation for the storage of COVID-19 vaccine has been done by the State government and in the first phase, the State will receive 13.90 lakh doses of the vaccine.

Talking to reporters after reviewing a vaccine storage facility the minister said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will hold a video conference with chief ministers of all States on Monday evening. The Prime Minister has already informed that COVID-19 vaccination will start from January 16 and that healthcare workers will receive 3 crore vaccines.

“There are 2 vaccine storage facilities in the State – in Bengaluru and Belagavi. In addition, there are 5 regional storage facilities in Chitradurga, Kalaburagi, Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru and Bagalkot. There are a total of 50 blocks within BBMP limits with 2,767 cold chain points. All these infrastructures have been set up for efficient vaccine distribution,” he added.

“There are 900 vaccine carriers in the State. The vaccine will be first delivered to regional storage centres from where it will be sent to district storage centres. There are two walk-in coolers in Bengaluru, each with a capacity to hold 45 lakhs doses of the vaccine. Similarly, there is a walk-in freezer with a capacity to hold 40 lakh doses of the vaccine. The central government will be providing another walk-in freezer soon,” Sudhakar said.